San Jose State athletics: Bowen’s departure and the aftermath

We know the news: San Jose State athletic Tom Bowen is off to Memphis; deputy director/chief operating officer Marie Tuite has been appointed interim AD; and the university will conduct a national search for Bowen’s replacement.

But there is much to discuss. Let’s get started:

*** Bowen ran the department for seven years and, in my opinion, did a first-class job.

Unless you have seen the financial books and the Academic Progress Rate numbers from early in his tenure — and I have — it’s difficult to comprehend the mess SJSU was in at the time Bowen was hired.

He created a new business model, cut expenses, ramped up fundraising, got the department into the black and fixed the immense academic problems, enabling SJSU to have full allotment of scholarships in football.

Without those pieces in place, the Spartans would never have a chance to be consistently competitive on the field.

Bowen leaves to a job that will pay him more money in a cheaper area to live at a school that’s joining the Big East, has dozens of donors who give $500,000 per year and a basketball program that averages 16,000 fans per home game.

During a 10-minute interview Monday, university president Mohammad Qayoumi addressed the situation with me (only after I asked, of course).

His answer was not exactly of the I-did-everything-possible-to-keep-him variety.

“We began talking in the preliminary stages,” Qayoumi said. “Had he not been interested in (Memphis), then (an extension) would have been the natural course.”

But if keeping Bowen was paramount to Qayoumi, why not get an extension done months ago, after he was a finalist for the AD job at Central Florida?

Now, it could be that Qayoumi has a lengthy to-do list (such as: remaking SJSU into an institution that will thrive in the 21st century) and athletics isn’t a priority — that he’d deal with Bowen’s contract when he had to deal with it, and not until then.

Or it could be because Qayoumi wants to bring in his own AD.

Or it could be that Qayoumi doesn’t give a hoot about athletics.

But if he didn’t value Bowen (for whatever reason), then he made a mistake.

And if he doesn’t appreciate the ripple effect a successful athletic department — especially a quality football program– can have on a university, he’s making a monumental mistake.

His passion for, and support of football is worth monitoring, very closely.

*** As noted on a previous post, Tuite has worked at Cal, the NCAA and Washington and is plenty capable of running the department on a permanent basis (assuming she wants to and if the school hires her).

But retaining co-deputy director John Poch, who oversees fundraising, is also an essential piece to maintain the momentum SJSU has built and the football complex it plans to build.

When Bowen was hired to replace Chuck Bell in 2004, the Spartans were a mess on multiple fronts and needed a housecleaning. Bowen got that house in order, especially in regard to the essential matters of finances and academics.

SJSU doesn’t need a new direction right now. It needs the same direction. Promoting Tuite to the interim post is a step to that end. If Qayoumi goes outside to hire Bowen’s permanent replacement, he’s taking a major risk.

*** The person most affected by Bowen’s departure? Basketball coach George Nessman. He had a close personal relationship with Bowen and is coming off a 1-13 season in WAC play.

By contrast, football coach Mike MacIntyre is on sound footing after winning five games in ’11 (four more than the previous season). If that trajectory continues, the Spartans will have to start worrying about whether they can keep MacIntyre.

I’d have to think hiring Tuite as the permanent AD would help in that regard.

*** Bowen leaves at a critical time for the Spartans: They are under consideration for membership in the Mountain West and raising money to construct a new football complex, which will include an operations building and a Bill Walsh Legacy center for intellectual endeavors.

Qayoumi was adamant that both pursuits would continue and that gaining entry into the MWC, in particular — the situation should be resolved in the next few weeks — is a “university-wide” effort.

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“Q” wasn’t going to renew Bowen’s contract? Did TB not deal forthrightly to “Q” about the Nessman contract extension? Check out that angle.

MostWanted

I almost never take a pessimistic, negative, emotional view to change. Ultimately it does make me wonder about the Athletic directors out there who want a challenge. Now would be a good time to explore AD’s with connections to PAC 10 schools. Yes getting into the MWC is important right now but I see it as a stepping stone to AQ not an end goal. Whether it’s WAC or MWC the goal should be to win the conference and keep building up the stadium. The current stadium could easily be expanded from 35,000 to 50,000 by adding an upper deck on the east side. There’s room to grow.

Spartan 68

Jon,
Tom Bowen was the best AD San Jose State has had since I graduated from there in 1969.
Both Marie Tuite and John Poch would be ideal candidates for the permanent AD job. President Qayoumi has been at many of the Spartan Foundation fund raising meetings and was in the AD’s box last Friday night at the Spring Game. To us working as Spartan Foundation Drive members, it has appeared that President Qayoumi has his heart in the athletic area as well as in the classroom. During President Qayoumi’s first stint at San Jose he worked for Don Kassing(former San Jose State President). Don brought in Bill Walsh to assist in hiring Tom Bowen in 2004. And the rest is good history!
Terry Potts
Class of 1969- B.S. Marketing

OT

San Jose State still has to decide what kind of institution it wants to be, given its location (urban and downtown) and the reality of the marketplace.

As of 2012, San Jose State is still primarily a commuter school with mostly part-time students, many of whom are over the age of 25. That group doesn’t have the time to hang around campus after classes.

The campus is still sort of “dead” after 1pm on Fridays.

Should San Jose State model itself after San Diego State (which is the “flagship” campus of the Cal State system), or the likes of Long Beach and Fullerton?

San Jose will never be like Fresno State, where Bulldog sports are essentially the only game in town. Nor should San Jose State try to be like Fresno.

The realist

Jon,

Answer me this. Tom Bowen tried for another AD position earlier. He knew he was going for/in the running for the Memphis job.

Why did he call a meeting with Keith Shamburger (and yes he did) in an attempt to convince Shamburger to stay when he himself was trying his best to move on?

Ando no, he didn’t disclose to Shamburger that he was trying for another position.

Six years of seminary school and that’s the values you display?

Patrick

John –

You are WAY of base with this article trying to stir a non-existent pot. All of this is based on the questionable assumption that not making an offer of an extension to Tom Bowen indicates Pres Qayoumi didn’t value Bowen.

TB had taken his name out of the running for AD at Central Florida before Mo even became the President.

Qayuomi knew that someone with more ability to pay would lure Tom Bowen away.

If Tom Bowen is as good as has been reported, the people he hired should be ready to step up.

>Most Wanted:
A bigger stadium would be neat…. but unless we schedule Grambling every year the priority should be filling the seats of the existing stadium. I don’t think the average season attendance is over 20,000, if that. I used to have two season tickets… maybe I should run out and get two more; are they playing during daytime this year? (I have to commute from the Big Valley).
GO Spartans!

Spartacusminimus

Post script:
Has San Jose State changed the design to the football helmet? The photo shoot with the new team captains had a really really neat one. I hope it’s the new one. I’ve never liked the latest (2006-2011) ones. Too busy— just a visual blob from the stands.
Go Spartans!

Mephistopheles

@MostWanted, the Pac-12 will never ever ever ever add San Jose State, or any other California school. They would literally bring nothing to the table in regards to television.

Dudley Degroot

SJSU brings nada to the table due to lack of wins and no real interest from Alumni due to the same herein!

MostWanted

“mayhap they don’t and mayhap they do” -Mother Abigail haha

Things are changing around here in case you haven’t noticed. If SJSU wins the Alliance Championship it’s going to be hard to keep denying them and even harder to ignore the popularity such championships will bring. The bay area loves a winner, remember when the niner’s were perenially losers? I do and I also remember an empty candlestick up until they started winning with Coach Walsh.

Todd Fuller

Let’s be honest, most people could care less about sjsu and never will care. They will ALWAYS be second fiddle to CAL and Stanford. That is just reality.

Closet 11

It was only a matter of time before TB would leave. He worked hard for SJSU
Dr. Mo does not deserve the kind of speculation that you are writing about.
He is a solid man and he is going to do what is good for SJS. Give him a break and stop trying to sell newspapers

Mephistopheles

Conference consolidation is about money, not about being “fair”. You cannot “earn” your way into a major league.

San Jose can win all the championships they want, and they would still have zero value to the Pac-12 who already owns the bay area from a college athletic perspective. I could see the Big East taking a flier on them in 10 years if the league is still alive and San Jose State has some legitimate athletic success, but that is neither here nor there.

SJSU is certainly moving in the right direction, which bolsters the argument that an internal candidate should be selected. Moreover, I’m a strong advocate of promoting from within because it fosters loyalty.

The most important step in the process is forming the best Selection Committee. SJSU must ensure that the Selection Committee is composed of persons who have a strong understanding of [1] SJSU’s unique situation and [2] the characteristics of a successful AD. The Selection Committee should also include: [1] one current male athlete, [2] one male athlete alumnus, [3] one current female athlete, and [4] one female athlete alumnus.

Please ensure that NO clueless bureaucrat is a member of the Selection Committee.

If a clueless bureaucrat is a member of the Selection Committee, please ensure that they receive the WRONG meeting times and locations.

Lastly, please choose based on the candidate’s merit, potential, and plan for success.

SPARTAN FAN

Bowen could have done us one last solid and fired Nessman on his way out the door. With the emphasis Memphis puts on basketball, I sure hope he has better judgement as to who he hires as a coach there.
SDSU is the “Flagship” of the CSU system? I thought it was Dominquez Hills.

That statement will certainly cause all of the insecure Cal Poly grads to go loco.

Mephistopheles

“The Pac12 doesn’t own the bay area. The largest most popular city in the bay area doesn’t care as much as you think about Cal or Stanford.”- MostWanted

And the city cares even less about San Jose State.

MostWanted

“And the city cares even less about San Jose State.”

Not when they’re winning. When Championships are on the line the stadium is full and the fans travel. Stanford went to 2 BCS bowls back to back and hardly a peep.

San Jose State baseball just defeated #10 Stanford and swept Fresno State and are now 3-0 and 1st place in the WAC, for those who care by the way.

Mephistopheles

San Jose State has not been a legitimate competitor for a conference title in football since it left the Big West. That probably changes next year as the departure of FSU, Nevada, and Hawaii leaves SJSU, USU, and La Tech as the presumed favorites.

Does that mean fans will pour out to support SJSU? Maybe the team will average 20k fans per game. That’ll definitely get the Pac-12’s attention!

Tdmaximus

The PAC 10 does not own San Jose. In fact, the only team that can claim mor fans in San Jose than any other team is the Giants. I have seen little interest in Cal or Stanford in San Jose.

Huskerteer

The SJSU administration is making a mistake if they place a second priority on athletics. Let’s face it, athletics – especially football – is one of the most powerful marketing tools at a university’s disposal.

Under Bowen, SJSU began to recognize this…SJSU would be wise not to make the same mistake they did back in the early-1990s by stripping away resources and assets from their sports programs.

MostWanted

Beating Hawaii and Fresno last year wasn’t goingto get the Pac’s attention but I winning the Alliance Championship will bring in the fans for an average of 40,000 – 45,000. Football is king.

San Jose State is going to join the Mountain West, win the conference (something they haven’t done since ’91 in the Big West) and alliance championship, and more than double attendance? The Pac-12 is going to be so impressed with 40k fans a game that they will add another team in a market they already claim? (The Pac-12 claims the whole state of California. Whether they deliver the whole state is another matter)

I love Mephistopheles statement. Sure wish it all happens. Just want us to get into the MWC and this coming season win the WAC and then we move forward to the MWC for 2013. Sounds wonderful!!! GO SPARTANS!!!